Algonquin Indian Tales eBook

“When the ground squirrel, who had for days
been attending the council of the trees and plants,
had made out his list of what remedies each tree and
plant could furnish he was very much delighted, and
then, thanking them for their offered assistance,
he rapidly returned to the abodes of mankind and informed
them of his great success.

“Of course they were very much pleased, and
very grateful to the ground squirrel for his kindness
and his interest in their happiness. This is the
reason why the chipmunk, or ground squirrel, lives
near the homes of men. You never see an Indian
shoot them or the boys or girls try to snare them.
They are always welcome among the trees and the wigwams.
The Indians love them because they spoke up for man
when the other animals turned against him, and because
it was one of their ancestors that made the trees and
plants reveal their good medicines for the cure of
the sick.”

“Now I know why it was, when I was out with
the Indian boys, that they never would shoot an arrow
at a chipmunk, even when I asked them to,” said
Sagastao.

“Yes,” said Mary, “all of the Indians
have heard their fathers tell of the kindness of the
old father chipmunk in the days when the animals knew
so much and could talk, and so they warn the children
against injuring these pretty little creatures.”

But it was now time they were returning. The
light canoe was once more pushed down into the lake,
and soon they were merrily gliding along over the
clear, transparent waters to their cozy home.

CHAPTER XIII.

In the Wigwam of Souwanas—­How Gray Wolf Persecuted
Waubenoo, and How He was Punished by Nanahboozhoo.

“We have come to-day for a nice story about
Nanahboozhoo,” said Minnehaha, as she and Sagastao
lifted the deerskin door at the wigwam of Souwanas,
and entered with all the assurance of children who
knew they were welcome.

“Did he ever do anything to punish bad fellows
who were cruel to their wives and children?”
asked Sagastao. “Because, if he did, I wish
he would come and thrash old Wakoo, that bad fellow
who has been thrashing his wife again because he said
she did not snare enough rabbits to suit him.”

Souwanas, who was one of the kind-hearted Indians,
never cruel to any of his family, was much amused
at the fire and indignation with which the young lad
spoke. So after he had had comfortable seats arranged
for the children among the robes and blankets he endeavored
to satisfy their demands. “Nanahboozhoo,”
he said, “did such things long ago, but once,
when he was giving a good thrashing to a man who had
been very cruel to his wife, the wife, as soon as
she was able, sprang up from the place where her husband
had knocked her to, seized a paddle and attacked Nanahboozhoo
with such fury that he resolved never to interfere
again, if he could help it, in a quarrel between man
and wife. And,” added the old man, with
a merry twinkle in his eye, “it is best for
everybody, if possible, to keep out of such quarrels.”